MINISTER for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the 7th Coordination Meeting between the African Union and Regional Economic Communities, held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The meeting was officially opened by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, who emphasized African integration and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 He called for identifying cooperation areas and establishing regional and international frameworks to boost member states' economic development.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf urged member states to review and reform their tax laws to increase national revenues.

AU Chairperson and Angola’s President João Lourenço highlighted the need for African countries to resolve their conflicts internally. He announced that ahead of the UN General Assembly in September, an African leaders’ summit will be convened to discuss the continent’s conflict sources and solutions. He also urged investment in scientific innovation to accelerate Africa’s development.

The meeting, a key platform for coordinating regional integration, featured reports on the status of regional integration, the role of the African Development Agency, division of responsibilities among member states, the AU, and regional communities, and the implementation of the AU’s 2025 theme alongside policy harmonization efforts.

The African Union works with eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs): UMA, COMESA, CEN-SAD, EAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS, IGAD, and SADC.